A Pleasant Meeting

High Heaven Secret Realm.

Du Ruhui and Ye Lingxiao walked through the clouds and along a corridor, stopping in front of an elegant cluster of buildings.

The plaque read: Cloud-Stopping Pavilion.

It was named Cloud-Stopping Pavilion because "the sea of clouds came to rest here, its waves stilled, as if one had wandered into a dream."

It was also known as Dream-Retaining Pavilion.

The name expressed the hope that guests would have a beautiful dream here, and the wish to make them stay. Even the words "Cloud-Stopping" carried a hint of parting sorrow.

Du Ruhui let out a faint, nearly imperceptible sigh.

This was where High Heaven Pavilion hosted its guests.

Receiving him here was not discourteous, but it showed considerable distance.

Many years ago, when he had visited the High Heaven Secret Realm, he would never have stayed here.

It was not only time that had passed. Many things had changed.

But he had long since come to terms with that.

Only... after all these years, what dream was left to hold on to?

The two took their seats in Cloud-Stopping Pavilion, and a welcoming disciple brought them fragrant tea.

"It's been a long time since I last came, but this place is still just as beautiful." Du Ruhui gazed at the drifting clouds beyond the window, his emotions hidden, and praised it aloud. "Those so-called immortal realms of the Recent Antiquity Era must have been no better."

"Is that so?" Ye Lingxiao replied absently.

He had invited Du Ruhui into High Heaven Pavilion not because he truly wanted to reminisce. He simply wanted to make his position clear: High Heaven Pavilion had always remained neutral, and the Cloud Kingdom had no intention of making enemies of anyone or any faction.

He believed Du Ruhui understood this perfectly well